Ceasefire in Gaza: an Essential First Step
January 15, 2025 — Anera heartily welcomes the news of a ceasefire as an essential first step toward relief for the more than two million civilians in Gaza and countless families affected by the devastating conflict. The terms of the agreement stipulate that the initial 42-day pause in violence will enable:
- the dismantling of military sites,
- significantly more humanitarian aid to enter Gaza (up to 500-600 truckloads per day),
- displaced Palestinians to return to what remains of their homes, including some one million moving from southern Gaza back to Gaza City and the north,
- and the exchange of hostages and prisoners to begin.
Over the next several weeks and beyond, Anera expects to rapidly increase the already significant levels of humanitarian aid we are providing to displaced families. Our Gaza team will also contribute to and lead needs assessments alongside other on-the-ground responders across all regions of Gaza to determine what actions we will take to help Gaza recover.
While the announcement offers hope, the global community should support the three phases of the agreement to help ensure a complete and lasting ceasefire. The road to rebuilding lives and communities will be long and challenging. The floodgates for necessary levels of urgently needed aid must finally open. Negotiations during the ceasefire period must extend the pause in violence and establish a foundation for a stable future where such horrific violence is never repeated. This must be the last time that it is necessary to rebuild. And the broken paradigms of past rebuilding efforts that impose ruinous restrictions on imports must be abandoned to permit a free and open reconstruction of Gaza that allows for prosperity and freedom of movement.
We must all be a part of ensuring a better future. Together, we can help hope find a way for Gaza and its people.
Anera President and CEO Sean Carroll is available for a limited number of interviews.
Please contact Steve Fake to make arrangements:
Steven Fake
Media Relations Officer
202.266.9719
[email protected]
(UTC-05)
About Anera
Since 1968, Anera has helped refugees and others hurt by conflicts in the Middle East live with dignity and purpose. Anera, which has no political or religious affiliation, works on the ground with partners in the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem, Lebanon, and Jordan. We mobilize resources for immediate humanitarian relief and for sustainable health, education, and economic development efforts. Our staff are from the communities they serve, navigating the politics that constrict progress to get help where it’s needed most. We will keep building better lives until hope finds its way in the Middle East.